Washington Watch

Stop the Sequester (Wait … What’s a Sequester?)

The major budget cuts looming on March 1 are a bad idea, whether you know much about them or not.

That’s one takeaway from a new poll by the Pew Research Center and USA Today on issues that are likely to dominate the political landscape this year.

By a 9 point margin (49 to 40 percent), those polled favored finding a way around the $85 billion in spending cuts scheduled for military and most domestic programs – known in Washington as the “sequester.” There was little difference between the response of those under age 50 and those 50 and older.

Asked how much they’ve heard about the sequester, 27 percent said “a lot”; 43 percent said “a little”; and 29 percent said “nothing at all.”

Here, though, there was a clear difference by age:

Those who have heard “a lot” about the sequester?

Under age 50: 19 percent

50 and older: 37 percent.

Have heard “nothing at all”?

Under age 50: 35 percent

50 and older: 21 percent.

The poll also asked how Congress and President Obama should reduce the budget deficit in the coming months.

Spending cuts only: 19 percent

Tax increases only: 3 percent

A combination: 76 percent

There was no significant difference between those under 50 (less informed about the sequester) and 50 and older (more informed about the sequester) .